Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2025

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I recognize and appreciate the frustration that exists when veterans cannot access the care they need, perhaps because they don't have a family doctor or for a number of other reasons. I acknowledge that veterans have experiences that are unique to their circumstances. Having an individual who's familiar with that can provide specific insight into the needs of veterans.

We are going to continue to ensure that veterans have access to the best possible care that they can.

As you know, health care is a provincial responsibility, so that engages working with the provinces and territories to ensure that veterans have access to that care.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Compassion fatigue has been recognized. This can happen when there are many cases and a lack of staff or, as is often the case, a lack of experience. We also found that private contractors were often used. Witnesses said that private contractors, such as Lifemark, a company owned by Loblaw, were not really specialized.

Can we hope that a program will be put in place or, at least that an announcement will be made for the thousands of organizations that need a specialized doctor or an increase in their funding, for example? I could make a list. About 50 of them tell me that they could remedy the situation, but that they need the department's help.

What do you say to them?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Again, ensuring that veterans have access to care to meet their needs is the top priority. You made reference to some of the service providers that are out there. The connection for veterans there is making service available on a much broader scale. It's connecting veterans with 12,000 health professionals across the country to enable them to access the health care and make it available to them.

There is ongoing training, engagement and continued improvement, which happens in all cases.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Ms. Gaudreau, I want to congratulate you on respecting your time so impeccably. I have to admit that it's truly impressive.

We go now to Mr. Richards for five minutes.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Thanks.

I'll pick up where we left off before we were cut off.

That same algorithmic impact assessment that I referred to earlier states that veteran input data errors may negatively affect outcomes.

Why is that burden being placed on disabled veterans to provide absolutely perfectly formatted medical and administrative data? Clearly, that's just going to mean more delays and denials for veterans.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I believe you're circling back to the use of technology and AI to supplement.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Yes.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

With the engagement of these tools, we are assisting with some of the administrative aspects of it so that the frontline individuals who work with veterans have expanded capacity to engage with veterans.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

When it says that veterans' input data errors may negatively affect outcomes, when I hear “negatively affect outcomes”, that means to me—if you think otherwise, I'd love to hear it—more delays and denials for veterans. If that form isn't perfectly filled out and the AI doesn't get it.... This is already a challenge for veterans, who find that they're delayed and there's always a return of a medical form because a doctor didn't quite fill it out right. This is already a problem, and it's saying this could get worse with the use of AI.

What do you say to veterans? They fear this is going to mean more delays and denials, and they're probably right.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

My engagement with veterans is around how we support them to equip them for this process to reduce barriers, which I believe goes back to part of what you've referenced, but then also how we look at our processes on the other side to ensure that we are using our resources to the maximum capacity to be available to work directly with veterans.

I believe it's a multi-faceted approach of working to improve the system overall.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

I don't know that that's going to give veterans any more confidence that they're not going to face worse delays and denials, but I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

I'm going to turn the rest of my time over to Mrs. Wagantall.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you.

We have had testimony recently on suicide among veterans. Through the current study on preventing such suicides, we learned that our province of Saskatchewan Legion command is funding veterans' costs for a successful cutting-edge new treatment regime for PTSD, called SEPTRE. VAC has refused to fund it.

We need to provide what veterans feel works. Are you prepared to listen to veterans on programs that they want to see included in veterans' supports as options with those providers that are within the Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services? Are you open to hearing and suggesting moving forward with ones they feel are very effective?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Engagement with veterans is a huge part of what goes on, and meeting their needs for care, specifically with regard to PTSD, is the first priority.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Can I ask further, then, if any of them have suggested programs to you that are not included as options for them in PCVRS.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

The department is continually reviewing new and emerging treatments and the science that goes with them.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Can I ask where that list of treatments is? Is it possible for veterans to see all of those options? Would we, as the committee, be able to see which providers PCVRS is using at this time?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I don't have that information with me right now, but I would be happy to follow up with you.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Will you provide it to the committee?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I will certainly come back with an update.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

A list.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I will come back with an update of the information that is available.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

I would now like to pass the floor to MP Casey for five minutes.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Welcome, Madam Minister.

In his first round of questions, Mr. Richards alleged that veterans have been overpaid and are now receiving bills for tens of thousands of dollars for repayment of their IRB. Is there anything introduced in the budget that would warrant a repayment demand of veterans, on the part of the department, for the IRB?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

No, there was nothing in the budget that would demand a repayment.